The makeshift weapons of the Free Syria Army

The US is providing Syrian rebels with "non leathal" equipment support, but the Free Syria Army really wants modern weaponry.

Photo: Muhammed Muheisen/ASSOCIATED PRESS

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A Syrian rebel walks past Sham II, a homemade armored vehicle made by the rebels' Al-Ansar brigade, in Bishqatin, 4 kms west of Aleppo, on December 8, 2012. From a distance it looks rather like a big rusty metal box but closer inspection reveals the latest achievement of Syrian rebels: a homemade armoured vehicle waiting to be deployed. Sham II, named after ancient Syria, is built from the chassis of a car and touted by rebels as "100 percent made in Syria." less

A Syrian rebel walks past Sham II, a homemade armored vehicle made by the rebels' Al-Ansar brigade, in Bishqatin, 4 kms west of Aleppo, on December 8, 2012. From a distance it looks rather like a big rusty ... more

Syrian rebels sit in Sham II, a homemade armored vehicle made by the rebels' Al-Ansar brigade, in Bishqatin, 4 kms west of Aleppo, on December 8, 2012. From a distance it looks rather like a big rusty metal box but closer inspection reveals the latest achievement of Syrian rebels: a homemade armored vehicle waiting to be deployed. Sham II, named after ancient Syria, is built from the chassis of a car and touted by rebels as "100 percent made in Syria." less

Syrian rebels sit in Sham II, a homemade armored vehicle made by the rebels' Al-Ansar brigade, in Bishqatin, 4 kms west of Aleppo, on December 8, 2012. From a distance it looks rather like a big rusty metal box ... more

A Syrian rebel uses a control stick to activate the machine-gun of Sham II, a homemade armoured vehicle made by the rebels' Al-Ansar brigade, in Bishqatin, 4 kms west of Aleppo, on December 8, 2012. From a distance it looks rather like a big rusty metal box but closer inspection reveals the latest achievement of Syrian rebels: a homemade armored vehicle waiting to be deployed. Sham II, named after ancient Syria, is built from the chassis of a car and touted by rebels as "100 percent made in Syria." less

A Syrian rebel uses a control stick to activate the machine-gun of Sham II, a homemade armoured vehicle made by the rebels' Al-Ansar brigade, in Bishqatin, 4 kms west of Aleppo, on December 8, 2012. From a ... more

Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images

A Syrian rebel uses a control stick to activate the machine-gun of... Photo-4448972.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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Syrian rebels stand atop Sham II, a homemade armored vehicle made by the rebels' Al-Ansar brigade, in Bishqatin, 4 kms west of Aleppo, on December 8, 2012. From a distance it looks rather like a big rusty metal box but closer inspection reveals the latest achievement of Syrian rebels: a homemade armoured vehicle waiting to be deployed. Sham II, named after ancient Syria, is built from the chassis of a car and touted by rebels as "100 percent made in Syria." less

Syrian rebels stand atop Sham II, a homemade armored vehicle made by the rebels' Al-Ansar brigade, in Bishqatin, 4 kms west of Aleppo, on December 8, 2012. From a distance it looks rather like a big rusty metal ... more

Rebel arms maker Abu al-Fadhel shows off a row of homemade weapons including a hand-grenade, a portable rocket-launcher, and various rockets with explosive warheads at a location in Aleppo province on October 17, 2012. Lightly-armed Syrian rebels who face the warplanes, artillery and tanks of President Bashar al-Assad's forces have turned to making their own weapons to fill major gaps in their armories. less

Rebel arms maker Abu al-Fadhel shows off a row of homemade weapons including a hand-grenade, a portable rocket-launcher, and various rockets with explosive warheads at a location in Aleppo province on October ... more

A Syrian rebel holds a homemade mortar shell in the northern city of Aleppo on October 16, 2012. Lightly-armed Syrian rebels who face the warplanes, artillery and tanks of loyalists have turned to making their own weapons, even rigging a video game controller to fire mortar rounds. less

A Syrian rebel holds a homemade mortar shell in the northern city of Aleppo on October 16, 2012. Lightly-armed Syrian rebels who face the warplanes, artillery and tanks of loyalists have turned to making their ... more

Syrian rebel fighters prepare to fire a homemade rocket as they carry out a coordinated attack by hundreds of rebel fighters on a Syrian air force compound during heavy clashes on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria. There is a struggle for power among rebel factions in Syria with Islamists rejecting the country's new Western-backed opposition coalition and unilaterally declaring an Islamic state in the key battleground of Aleppo though all of the groups are fighting to topple President Bashar Assad. less

Syrian rebel fighters prepare to fire a homemade rocket as they carry out a coordinated attack by hundreds of rebel fighters on a Syrian air force compound during heavy clashes on the outskirts of Aleppo, ... more

A rebel fighter throws a homemade grenade towards Syrian army troops on the frontline in the Bustan Al-Pasha neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria. Syria's air force fired missiles and dropped barrel bombs on rebel strongholds while opposition fighters attacked regime positions, flouting a U.N.-backed cease-fire that was supposed to quiet fighting over a long holiday weekend but never took hold. less

A rebel fighter throws a homemade grenade towards Syrian army troops on the frontline in the Bustan Al-Pasha neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria. Syria's air force fired missiles and dropped barrel bombs on rebel ... more

Rebel fighters prepare homemade hand grenades during fighting against pro-Syrian government troops in the Bustan al-Bashar district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on October 27, 2012. Syrian rebels clashed with Kurdish militia in the northern city of Aleppo, leaving 30 dead and around 200 captured, a watchdog said, sparking fears of a new front in an already fractured country. less

Rebel fighters prepare homemade hand grenades during fighting against pro-Syrian government troops in the Bustan al-Bashar district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on October 27, 2012. Syrian rebels ... more

Syrian rebels observe as a comrade prepares to throw a homemade grenade towards an army position in the Al-Amariya district of the northern city of Aleppo on October 20, 2012. International peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi pressed in Damascus for a truce to break the cycle of bloodshed in Syria, while the regime said a national dialogue free of foreign interference was the key. less

Syrian rebels observe as a comrade prepares to throw a homemade grenade towards an army position in the Al-Amariya district of the northern city of Aleppo on October 20, 2012. International peace envoy Lakhdar ... more

Syrian rebels adjust a homemade mortar launcher in the northern city of Aleppo on October 16, 2012. Lightly-armed Syrian rebels who face the warplanes, artillery and tanks of loyalists have turned to making their own weapons, even rigging a video game controller to fire mortar rounds. less

Syrian rebels adjust a homemade mortar launcher in the northern city of Aleppo on October 16, 2012. Lightly-armed Syrian rebels who face the warplanes, artillery and tanks of loyalists have turned to making ... more

A Syrian rebel readies to fire a bomb using a homemade slingshot in the northern city of Aleppo on October 16, 2012. Lightly-armed Syrian rebels who face the warplanes, artillery and tanks of loyalists have turned to making their own weapons, even rigging a video game controller to fire mortar rounds. less

A Syrian rebel readies to fire a bomb using a homemade slingshot in the northern city of Aleppo on October 16, 2012. Lightly-armed Syrian rebels who face the warplanes, artillery and tanks of loyalists have ... more

Syrian rebels prepare to fire a bomb using a homemade slingshot in the northern city of Aleppo on October 16, 2012. Lightly-armed Syrian rebels who face the warplanes, artillery and tanks of loyalists have turned to making their own weapons, even rigging a video game controller to fire mortar rounds. less

Syrian rebels prepare to fire a bomb using a homemade slingshot in the northern city of Aleppo on October 16, 2012. Lightly-armed Syrian rebels who face the warplanes, artillery and tanks of loyalists have ... more

Syrian rebels adjust a homemade mortar launcher in the northern city of Aleppo on October 16, 2012. Lightly-armed Syrian rebels who face the warplanes, artillery and tanks of loyalists have turned to making their own weapons, even rigging a video game controller to fire mortar rounds. less

Syrian rebels adjust a homemade mortar launcher in the northern city of Aleppo on October 16, 2012. Lightly-armed Syrian rebels who face the warplanes, artillery and tanks of loyalists have turned to making ... more

A Syrian rebel carries a homemade bomb in the northern city of Aleppo on October 8, 2012. A string of rebel bastions across Syria was rocked by regime shelling and clashes, as several army checkpoints also came under attack, with more than 60 people killed nationwide, a rights group said. less

A Syrian rebel carries a homemade bomb in the northern city of Aleppo on October 8, 2012. A string of rebel bastions across Syria was rocked by regime shelling and clashes, as several army checkpoints also came ... more

Photo: TAUSEEF MUSTAFA, AFP/Getty Images

A Syrian rebel carries a homemade bomb in the northern city of... Photo-4448956.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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Syrian rebel fighters raise their weapons as they head to fight government forces in Aleppo, in Suran, on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012.

Syrian rebel fighters raise their weapons as they head to fight government forces in Aleppo, in Suran, on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012.

Photo: Muhammed Muheisen, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Syrian rebel fighters raise their weapons as they head to fight... Photo-4449002.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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FSA soldiers prepare a mortar in Izaa district in Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. On Friday, U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham, who have toured the volatile Middle East in recent days, urged Washington to help arm Syria's rebels with weapons and create a safe zone inside the country for a transition government. less

FSA soldiers prepare a mortar in Izaa district in Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. On Friday, U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham, who have toured the volatile Middle East in recent ... more

FSA soldiers prepare a mortar in Izaa district in Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. On Friday, U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham, who have toured the volatile Middle East in recent days, urged Washington to help arm Syria's rebels with weapons and create a safe zone inside the country for a transition government. less

FSA soldiers prepare a mortar in Izaa district in Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. On Friday, U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham, who have toured the volatile Middle East in recent ... more

In this Friday, Sept 7, 2012 photo, Two rebel Free Syrian Army soldiers run after attacking a Syrian Army tank during fighting in the Izaa district in Aleppo, Syria. On Friday, U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham, who have toured the volatile Middle East in recent days, urged Washington to help arm Syria's rebels with weapons and create a safe zone inside the country for a transition government. less

In this Friday, Sept 7, 2012 photo, Two rebel Free Syrian Army soldiers run after attacking a Syrian Army tank during fighting in the Izaa district in Aleppo, Syria. On Friday, U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe ... more

In this Friday, Sept 7, 2012 photo, a rebel Free Syrian Army soldier jumps out of a truck in Salaheddine district in Aleppo, Syria. On Friday, U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham, who have toured the volatile Middle East in recent days, urged Washington to help arm Syria's rebels with weapons and create a safe zone inside the country for a transition government. less

In this Friday, Sept 7, 2012 photo, a rebel Free Syrian Army soldier jumps out of a truck in Salaheddine district in Aleppo, Syria. On Friday, U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham, who ... more

In this Thursday, Sept 6, 2012 photo, rebel Free Syrian Army soldiers are on patrol in the town of Aleppo, Syria. On Friday, U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham, who have toured the volatile Middle East in recent days, urged Washington to help arm Syria's rebels with weapons and create a safe zone inside the country for a transition government. less

In this Thursday, Sept 6, 2012 photo, rebel Free Syrian Army soldiers are on patrol in the town of Aleppo, Syria. On Friday, U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham, who have toured the ... more

Free Syrian Army soldiers hold their weapons during clashes with government forces in at the south-west district of Salah al-Din in Aleppo, Syria. Syrian troops launched a ground assault Wednesday on the besieged northern city of Aleppo, but activists said rebels forces were fighting back in a battle for the country's largest city that has raged for more than two weeks. less

Free Syrian Army soldiers hold their weapons during clashes with government forces in at the south-west district of Salah al-Din in Aleppo, Syria. Syrian troops launched a ground assault Wednesday on the ... more

Opposition fighters prepare home-made firebombs in the northern Syrian city of of Aleppo where rebel forces overran the Shaar district police station on July 25, 2012. Battles raged through the night in several districts of Syria's second largest city to which the regime had rushed reinforcement, after rebels launched an all-out assault for control of the country's commercial hub on July 20. Arabic graffiti on the police station's entrance reads "Assad's Syria." less

Opposition fighters prepare home-made firebombs in the northern Syrian city of of Aleppo where rebel forces overran the Shaar district police station on July 25, 2012. Battles raged through the night in several ... more

A Syrian rebel sits in the back of truck mounted with an anti aircraft weapon during clashes with Syrian troops in Idlib, Syria.

A Syrian rebel sits in the back of truck mounted with an anti aircraft weapon during clashes with Syrian troops in Idlib, Syria.

Photo: Fadi Zaidan, ASSOCIATED PRESS

A Syrian rebel sits in the back of truck mounted with an anti... Photo-4449009.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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Fighters from the Free Syrian Army buy AK-47 bullets from a weapons seller in Idlib province on July 4, 2012. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged the UN to use the threat of sanctions to force change in Syria on July 6, 2012, as President Bashar al-Assad was rocked by the defection of one of his most senior generals. less

Fighters from the Free Syrian Army buy AK-47 bullets from a weapons seller in Idlib province on July 4, 2012. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged the UN to use the threat of sanctions to force change in ... more

Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images

Fighters from the Free Syrian Army buy AK-47 bullets from a weapons... Photo-4448953.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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A fighter from the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) counts wads of cash - Syrian pounds - before buying weapons and ammunition from a seller in Idlib province on July 4, 2012. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged the UN to use the threat of sanctions to force change in Syria on July 6, 2012, as President Bashar al-Assad was rocked by the defection of one of his most senior generals. less

A fighter from the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) counts wads of cash - Syrian pounds - before buying weapons and ammunition from a seller in Idlib province on July 4, 2012. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ... more

Free Syrian Army fighters sit in a house on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria. During two weeks with rebels in northern Syria, three Associated Press journalists found more than 20 rebel groups who often destroy government army posts and convoys but lack the weapons and unity to do more than gradually chip away at the regime of President Bashar Assad — a recipe for a long, bloody insurgency. less

Free Syrian Army fighters sit in a house on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria. During two weeks with rebels in northern Syria, three Associated Press journalists found more than 20 rebel groups who often destroy ... more

Photo: Khalil Hamra, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Free Syrian Army fighters sit in a house on the outskirts of... Photo-4448985.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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People work on the production of hand made missiles in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non exploded bombs collected after shellings are used for the manufacturing and sugar as well for the propulsion. Each day, nearly 50 missiles are assembled for the Abu baker Brigade. less

People work on the production of hand made missiles in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non exploded bombs collected after ... more

Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images

People work on the production of hand made missiles in a secret... Photo-4448976.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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A young man works on the production of hand made missiles in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non exploded bombs collected after shellings are used for the manufacturing and sugar as well for the propulsion. Each day, nearly 50 missiles are assembled for the Abu baker Brigade. less

A young man works on the production of hand made missiles in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non exploded bombs collected ... more

Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images

A young man works on the production of hand made missiles in a... Photo-4448975.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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People work on the production of hand made missiles in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non exploded bombs collected after shellings are used for the manufacturing and sugar as well for the propulsion. Each day, nearly 50 missiles are assembled for the Abu baker Brigade. less

People work on the production of hand made missiles in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non exploded bombs collected after ... more

Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images

People work on the production of hand made missiles in a secret... Photo-4448974.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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A young man works on the production of hand made missiles in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non exploded bombs collected after shillings are used for the manufacturing and sugar as well for the propulsion. Each day, nearly 50 missiles are assembled for the Abu baker Brigade. less

A young man works on the production of hand made missiles in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non exploded bombs collected ... more

Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images

A young man works on the production of hand made missiles in a... Photo-4448973.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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A Free Syrian Army fighter aims his weapon during clashes with government forces in Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013. Two explosions struck the main university in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Tuesday, causing an unknown number of casualties, state media and anti-government activists said. less

A Free Syrian Army fighter aims his weapon during clashes with government forces in Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013. Two explosions struck the main university in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on ... more

A Free Syrian Army fighter aims his weapon in the Saif al-Dawlah neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. The revolution against the Syrian regime started in March 2011 with peaceful protests but morphed into a civil war that has killed more than 60,000 people, according to a recent United Nations estimate. less

A Free Syrian Army fighter aims his weapon in the Saif al-Dawlah neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. The revolution against the Syrian regime started in March 2011 with peaceful protests but ... more

Photo: Andoni Lubaki, ASSOCIATED PRESS

A Free Syrian Army fighter aims his weapon in the Saif al-Dawlah... Photo-4449006.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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In this Friday, Dec. 14, 2012 photo, a Syrian rebel checks an anti-aircraft weapon, in Maaret Misreen, near Idlib, Syria. The new Syrian rebel chief, a defected army general who spent months in exile, says he has begun operating inside Syria to unite autonomous anti-regime militias for what he hopes will be the final push against President Bashar Assad. less

In this Friday, Dec. 14, 2012 photo, a Syrian rebel checks an anti-aircraft weapon, in Maaret Misreen, near Idlib, Syria. The new Syrian rebel chief, a defected army general who spent months in exile, says he ... more

Damaged buildings are seen along a desolate street on the front line after several weeks of intense battles between rebel fighters and troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Amarya district of Aleppo, Syria. As fears grow in the West that Syrian President Bashar Assad will unleash chemical weapons as an act of desperation, NATO moved forward Thursday with its plan to place Patriot missiles and troops along Syria's border with Turkey to protect against potential attacks. less

Damaged buildings are seen along a desolate street on the front line after several weeks of intense battles between rebel fighters and troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Amarya district of ... more

Photo: Narciso Contreras, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Damaged buildings are seen along a desolate street on the front... Photo-4449001.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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A Syrian rebel fighter points his weapon towards the positions of Syrian government forces in the Saladin district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on April 8, 2013.

A Syrian rebel fighter points his weapon towards the positions of Syrian government forces in the Saladin district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on April 8, 2013.

A Syrian rebel observes the movement of regime forces as he takes position inside a building in the Saif al-Dawla district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on April 5, 2013. The UN is hiking its estimates of people trapped in Syria after fleeing their homes, saying some four million are now displaced inside the country and in dire need of international help. less

A Syrian rebel observes the movement of regime forces as he takes position inside a building in the Saif al-Dawla district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on April 5, 2013. The UN is hiking its estimates ... more

Photo: DIMITAR DILKOFF, AFP/Getty Images

A Syrian rebel observes the movement of regime forces as he takes... Photo-4448981.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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Rebel fighter load their weapons in the Sheikh Maqsud neighborhood in Aleppo on April 4, 2013. The UN says more than 70,000 people have been killed in a spiraling war that broke out after the army unleashed a crackdown on a peaceful revolt which morphed into an armed revolt. less

Rebel fighter load their weapons in the Sheikh Maqsud neighborhood in Aleppo on April 4, 2013. The UN says more than 70,000 people have been killed in a spiraling war that broke out after the army unleashed a ... more

Free Syrian Army fighters take their positions as they observe the Syrian army forces base of Wadi al-Deif, at the front line of Maaret al-Numan town, in Idlib province, Syria. America's Arab allies have dramatically stepped up weapon supplies to Syrian rebels in preparation for a push on the capital Damascus, the main stronghold of President Bashar Assad, officials and Western military experts say, with one official saying airlifts to neighboring Jordan and Turkey have doubled the past month. The U.S. and other Western governments are involved to channel the flow toward more secular fighters, they say. The influx appears to be boosting a rebel drive to seize supply routes from the border with Jordan to Damascus. less

Free Syrian Army fighters take their positions as they observe the Syrian army forces base of Wadi al-Deif, at the front line of Maaret al-Numan town, in Idlib province, Syria. America's Arab allies have ... more

Photo: Hussein Malla, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Free Syrian Army fighters take their positions as they observe the... Photo-4448986.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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A Syrian rebel checks an anti-aircraft weapon, in Maaret Misreen, near Idlib, Syria. America's Arab allies have dramatically stepped up weapon supplies to Syrian rebels in preparation for a push on the capital Damascus, the main stronghold of President Bashar Assad, officials and Western military experts say, with one official saying airlifts to neighboring Jordan and Turkey have doubled the past month. The U.S. and other Western governments are involved to channel the flow toward more secular fighters, they say. The influx appears to be boosting a rebel drive to seize supply routes from the border with Jordan to Damascus. less

A Syrian rebel checks an anti-aircraft weapon, in Maaret Misreen, near Idlib, Syria. America's Arab allies have dramatically stepped up weapon supplies to Syrian rebels in preparation for a push on the capital ... more

Syrian rebel fighter Tawfiq Hassan, 23, a former butcher, poses for a picture, after returning from fighting against Syrian army forces in Aleppo, at a rebel headquarters in Marea on the outskirts of Aleppo city, Syria. America's Arab allies have dramatically stepped up weapon supplies to Syrian rebels in preparation for a push on the capital Damascus, the main stronghold of President Bashar Assad, officials and Western military experts say, with one official saying airlifts to neighboring Jordan and Turkey have doubled the past month. The U.S. and other Western governments are involved to channel the flow toward more secular fighters, they say. The influx appears to be boosting a rebel drive to seize supply routes from the border with Jordan to Damascus. less

Syrian rebel fighter Tawfiq Hassan, 23, a former butcher, poses for a picture, after returning from fighting against Syrian army forces in Aleppo, at a rebel headquarters in Marea on the outskirts of Aleppo ... more

Free Syrian Army fighters sit behind their anti-aircraft weapon in Aleppo, Syria. Syrian rebels brought their fight within a mile of the heart of Damascus on Friday, seizing army checkpoints and cutting a key highway with a row of burning tires as they pressed their campaign for the heavily guarded capital, considered the likely endgame in the nearly 2-year-old civil war. less

Free Syrian Army fighters sit behind their anti-aircraft weapon in Aleppo, Syria. Syrian rebels brought their fight within a mile of the heart of Damascus on Friday, seizing army checkpoints and cutting a key ... more

In this Friday February 8, 2013 photo, a Free Syrian Army fighter sits behind an anti-aircraft weapon in Aleppo, Syria. Syrian rebels brought their fight within a mile of the heart of Damascus on Friday, seizing army checkpoints and cutting a key highway with a row of burning tires as they pressed their campaign for the heavily guarded capital, considered the likely endgame in the nearly 2-year-old civil war. less

In this Friday February 8, 2013 photo, a Free Syrian Army fighter sits behind an anti-aircraft weapon in Aleppo, Syria. Syrian rebels brought their fight within a mile of the heart of Damascus on Friday, ... more

Photo: Abdullah Al-Yassin, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this Friday February 8, 2013 photo, a Free Syrian Army fighter... Photo-4448983.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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Free Syrian Army fighters hold their weapons during heavy clashes with government forces in Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. The revolt against President Bashar Assad began in March 2011with peaceful protests but morphed into a civil war that has killed more than 60,000 people, according to a recent United Nations recent estimate. less

Free Syrian Army fighters hold their weapons during heavy clashes with government forces in Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. The revolt against President Bashar Assad began in March 2011with peaceful ... more

A man handles a hand made missile that he produces in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non exploded bombs collected after shellings are used for the manufacturing and sugar as well for the propulsion. Each day, nearly 50 missiles are assembled for the Abu baker Brigade. less

A man handles a hand made missile that he produces in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non exploded bombs collected after ... more

Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images

A man handles a hand made missile that he produces in a secret... Photo-4448978.60102 - Houston Chronicle

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A man brings together hand made missiles in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non exploded bombs collected after shellings are used for the manufacturing and sugar as well for the propulsion. Each day, nearly 50 missiles are assembled for the Abu baker Brigade. less

A man brings together hand made missiles in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non exploded bombs collected after shellings ... more

Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images

A man brings together hand made missiles in a secret factory on... Photo-4448977.60102 - Houston Chronicle

Image 49 of 50

A man holds a piece of a hand made missile that he produces in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non exploded bombs collected after shellings are used for the manufacturing and sugar as well for the propulsion. Each day, nearly 50 missiles are assembled for the Abu baker Brigade. less

A man holds a piece of a hand made missile that he produces in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non exploded bombs collected ... more

Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images

A man holds a piece of a hand made missile that he produces in a... Photo-4448979.60102 - Houston Chronicle